Apparatus and method for taking samples from polymer support material

Abstract

A sample taking apparatus comprises a plurality of separation tools ( 10 ) (for example, punching capillaries) on a holding device ( 20 ), wherein the separation tools ( 10 ) are each provided with actuating means ( 30 ) for separate control thereof. In a sample taking method (for example, for punching samples from separation gels), successively removed samples are deposited in parallel onto a target substrate.

1. A sample taking apparatus, arranged for receiving a plurality of samples from a separation gel, comprising a plurality of separation tools ( 10 ) for taking samples of the separation gel, wherein the separation tools ( 10 ) are arranged on a holding device ( 20 ), and are provided with respective actuating means ( 30 ), by which the separation tools ( 10 ) can be separately controlled and moved. 
     
     
       2. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation tools are tubular punching tools ( 11  to  18 ) which at one end thereof are axially movably arranged on the respective actuating means ( 31  to  38 ) and have, at the other end thereof, a punching edge. 
     
     
       3. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the punching tools ( 11  to  18 ) are formed as capillaries. 
     
     
       4. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuating means ( 30 ) are selected from the group consisting of pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, piezoelectric actuating devices, and electromagnetic actuating devices. 
     
     
       5. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation tools ( 10 ) are arranged on the holding device ( 20 ) in a matrix having at least one row. 
     
     
       6. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the separation tools ( 10 ) are arranged such that their ends form an array which corresponds to the array of sample reservoirs in a predetermined microtiter plate format. 
     
     
       7. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each separation tool ( 10 ) is connected by a guide means ( 21 ) to the respective actuating means ( 30 ), wherein each guide means ( 21 ) has a connecting opening ( 21   a ) whereby the separation tool is connected to a pressure system. 
     
     
       8. The sample taking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding device ( 20 ) is connected to an adjusting device ( 200 ) for positioning the holding device ( 20 ) with the separation tools ( 10 ) in a horizontal or x-y reference plane. 
     
     
       9. The sample taking device according to  claim 8 , further comprising an imager ( 300 ) and a control device ( 400 ), wherein the imager ( 300 ) supplies image data of a separation gel to the control device, which is arranged to generate target coordinates for controlling the adjusting device ( 200 ). 
     
     
       10. A method for cutting samples from a separation gel and transferring said samples onto a target substrate ( 50 ), said method comprising:
 cutting said samples from a separation gel successively in time using a sample taking apparatus ( 100 ) having a plurality of separation tools ( 10 ), that are separately controlled and moved; and transferring said samples onto said target substrate ( 50 ) simultaneously in parallel. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein alternatingly first the sample taking apparatus ( 100 ) is moved by an adjusting device ( 200 ) into a position (P 1 , P 2 , . . . ) corresponding to predetermined target coordinates and then one or more separation tools ( 31  to  38 ) are actuated until all or some separation tools ( 31  to  38 ) are loaded with removed samples, whereupon the sample taking device ( 100 ) is moved to the target substrate ( 50 ) and the samples are transferred from the separation tools onto the target substrate ( 50 ). 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the target coordinates of the positions (P 1 , P 2 , . . . ) are obtained from image data of the separation gel. 
     
     
       13. The method according  claim 10 , wherein the separation tools ( 30 ) are actuated by compressed air or a hydraulic liquid. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the samples are substance bands ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) distributed in the separation gel, and the target substrate is a microtiter plate ( 50 ). 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of
 applying an underpressure to the separation tools containing removed samples prior to the transfer; and 
 applying an overpressure to the separation tools containing removed samples to effect the transfer onto the target substrate.